The house was unusually quiet when Vio returned.
And the absence of Catarina at the door unsettled him. Instead, the soft hum of her voice floated from the kitchen as she prepared dinner, her happiness evident in the gentle melody. She clearly hadn't expected him home early. Vio raised an eyebrow, feeling odd.
Choosing not to interrupt, Vio made his way upstairs, hoping to shake off the day with a hot shower. But as soon as he entered his room, a strange tension filled the air. A faint scent of snow lingered, one that was both familiar and unsettling—Lavanya's.
His brows drew together as he noticed the slightest detail: his chair was askew, and the bathroom door, which he usually left cracked open, was now shut. Something was off. His senses went on high alert as he set down his bag, loosening his tie.
